Sew Step by Step: How to use your sewing machine to make, mend, and customize

by DK

Overview

Need to learn how to shorten a hemline? Eager to make some cushion covers or a simple tunic dress? Sew Step by Step will come to your rescue.

Packed with more than 200 easy-to-follow techniques, from sewing on a button to personalizing a garment, Sew Step by Step brings these traditional, practical, and artistic crafts up to date with advice on contemporary styles and new materials, introducing these immensely satisfying skills to a whole new generation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781465492135
Publisher:	DK
Publication date:	02/25/2020
Series:	DK Step by Step
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	276,723
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

DK was founded in London in 1974 and is now the world leading illustrated reference publisher and a member of the Penguin Random House division of Bertelsmann. DK publishes highly visual, photographic non-fiction for adults and children. DK produces content for consumers in over 100 countries and over 60 languages, with offices in the UK, India, US, Germany, China, Canada, Spain and Australia.

DK's aim is to inspire, educate and entertain readers of all ages, and everything DK publishes, whether print or digital, embodies the unique DK design approach. DK brings unrivaled clarity to a wide range of topics, with a unique combination of words and pictures, put together to spectacular effect. We have a reputation for innovation in design for both print and digital products.

Our adult range spans travel, including the award-winning DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, history, science, nature, sport, gardening, cookery and parenting. 

DK’s extensive children’s list showcases a fantastic store of information for children, toddlers and babies. DK covers everything from animals and the human body, to homework help and craft activities, together with an impressive list of licensing titles, including the best-selling LEGO® books.

DK acts as the parent company for Alpha Books, publisher of the Idiot's Guides series.

https://www.dk.com/

Table of Contents

Introduction 6

Sewing Equipment 8

Basic sewing kit 10

Cutting tools 12

Measuring tools and marking aids 14

Useful extras 16

Pressing aids 17

Notions 18

Threads 20

Needles and pins 22

Sewing machine 24

Fabrics 28

Interfacings 44

Stitch Essentials 46

Hand sewing 48

Machine sewing and seams 52

Reducing seam bulk 61

Patterns 64

Reading patterns 66

Body measuring 68

Cutting out 70

Gathers, Ruffles, Tucks, Darts, and Pleats 80

Gathers 82

Ruffles 85

Tucks 90

Darts 94

Pleats 98

Hems and Edges 105

Hems and edges 106

Fastenings 118

Buttons 120

Buttonholes 124

Button loops 127

Other fastenings 129

Zippers 133

Pockets 140

Pockets 142

Waistlines, Belts, and Tie-Backs 150

Waistlines 152

Belts and tie-backs 162

Facings and Necklines 168

Facings and necklines 170

Collars 180

Collars 182

Sleeves and Sleeve Finishes 188

Sleeves 190

Sleeve edge finishes 195

Cuffs and openings 200

Decorative Techniques 208

Finishing techniques 210

Glossary 214

Index 219

Acknowledgments 223

About the author 224

Editorial Reviews

04/03/2020

This succinct primer explains the processes of sewing, from basic tools to decorative embellishments. Unlike the familiar giants (McCalls,Vogue, Readers' Digest), this work summarizes key techniques that are applicable to most sewing projects. It describes and illustrates tools, from the sewing machine to straight pins, as well as techniques for hand and machine stitches, collars, sleeves, gathers, patterns, fastenings, and other facets of stitching. An excellent section on fabrics discusses both natural and artificial fibers and the projects best suited for the needles, threads, and layouts they work well with. VERDICT Experienced sewers will find this a handy reference tool. Lavishly illustrated, this is recommended for anyone interested in sewing.—Susan B. Hagloch, formerly with Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, OH

Library Journal